Would-Be Contenders Wait for Bachmann Seat

If Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), who declared her candidacy for president on Monday, decides not to run for re-election, there are plenty of candidates who are leaving their options open to run in her 6th district.

Former GOP gubernatorial nominee Tom Emmer told Roll Call on Tuesday that he’d be “open” to considering a run if Bachmann did not run.

Former Minnesota Rep. Phil Krinkie, who lost the GOP nomination to Bachmann in 2006, said he would make a decision on a run “fairly soon.”

Former state Rep. Chris DelaForest (R) told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune he would “look at” running, if Bachmann was fully out of the race.

And Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch (R), who has been mentioned as a potential contender, told Roll Call she hadn’t thought about running and did not sound interested. When pressed about whether she would consider higher office somewhere down the line, she replied, “I don’t know. You’re never supposed to rule it out, right?”